IV. I come now to the last and sweetest point, of the SWEETNESSE of
our Tongue, which shall appeare the more plainely if we match it
with our Neighboures. The Italian is pleasante, but without Sinews,
as a still fleeting Water; the French delicate, but even nice as
a Woman, scarce daring to open her Lippes, for feare of marring
her Countenance; the Spanish Majestical, but fulsome, running too
much on the v, and terrible like the Devill in a Play; the Dutch
manlike, but withall very harsh, as one ready at every word to picke
a quarrel. Now we, in borrowing from them, give the Strength of
Consonants to the Italian, the full Sound of Words to the French,
the Varietie of Terminations to the Spanish, and the mollifying of
more Vowels to the Dutch; and so, like Bees, gather the Honey of
their good Properties, and leave the Dregs to themselves. And thus
when substantialnesse combineth with delightfullnesse, fullnesse with
finenesse, seemlinesse with portlinesse, and currantnesse
with staidnesse, how can the Language which consisteth of all these
sound other than most full of Sweetnesse?
Againe, the long wordes that we borrow being intermingled with the
short of our owne store, make up a perfect Harmonie, by culling from
out which Mixture (with judgment) you may frame your Speech according
to the Matter you must worke on, majesticall, pleasant, delicate,
or manly, more or lesse, in what sort you please.
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